Adjustable Multi-Port Irrigation Manifold System with Smart Control Interface

Abstract

An intelligent, programmable irrigation manifold system is disclosed, comprising a modular housing with multiple emitter ports, each independently controlled by a latching solenoid valve. The system interfaces with standard drip irrigation infrastructure and enables user-defined water delivery per port via a mobile application. A microcontroller governs valve actuation based on stored schedules and environmental parameters, while an integrated wireless module facilitates remote configuration and firmware updates. The system operates on solar or USB power and includes a pressure-based wake-up mechanism for energy efficiency. Designed for both retrofit and new installations, the device delivers precise irrigation to heterogeneous plant species, reducing overwatering and promoting sustainable landscaping practices. Optional integration with auxiliary sensors and weather data enables dynamic adjustment of irrigation protocols. Scalable across residential and commercial installations, the system provides individualized plant hydration management through a smart, connected interface.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An intelligent irrigation manifold system for use in a drip irrigation network, comprising:
 a. a housing having an inlet port configured for fluid communication with a pressurized water source, and a plurality of outlet ports;   b. a plurality of internal fluid conduits, each conduit in fluid communication with the inlet port and a corresponding one of the outlet ports;   c. a plurality of latching solenoid valves, each disposed within a respective conduit and configured to selectively permit or prevent water flow to a corresponding outlet port;   d. a microcontroller operatively coupled to the plurality of latching solenoid valves and configured to actuate each solenoid valve independently based on pre-programmed irrigation parameters;   e. a wireless communication module operatively coupled to the microcontroller, the wireless module configured to receive irrigation schedules and volumetric settings from an external user interface;   f. a power management subsystem comprising at least one solar cell array and a rechargeable battery configured to supply electrical power to the microcontroller, solenoid valves, and wireless communication module;   g. wherein the microcontroller is further configured to initiate an irrigation cycle upon detection of pressurized water at the inlet port, and to deliver a user-defined volume of water through one or more of the outlet ports in accordance with the received irrigation schedule.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a pressure sensor disposed in proximity to the inlet port and configured to generate a wake signal to the microcontroller upon detecting a fluid pressure above a predetermined threshold. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein each latching solenoid valve is configured to maintain an open or closed position without continuous electrical power. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the wireless communication module utilizes a protocol selected from the group consisting of Wi-Fi, Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE), Zigbee, and LoRaWAN. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the external user interface comprises a mobile application configured to transmit port-specific irrigation settings to the wireless communication module. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein each outlet port is configured to connect to a drip emitter via ¼ inch tubing. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the microcontroller is configured to deliver between 0 and 4 gallons of water per port during a given irrigation cycle, in user-selectable increments of 0.5 gallons. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the microcontroller is further configured to operate in a test mode, wherein each outlet port is actuated sequentially regardless of inlet pressure for diagnostic purposes. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a printed circuit board (PCB) housed within the housing, the PCB containing the microcontroller, solenoid drivers, and wireless communication module. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the housing is weather-resistant and sized to fit within a footprint not exceeding 6 inches by 3 inches by 2 inches. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the external user interface is configured to receive plant-specific irrigation recommendations based on user-provided plant type, soil data, or environmental inputs. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the microcontroller is configured to receive and apply firmware updates via the wireless communication module. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one auxiliary sensor input for receiving signals from external environmental sensors selected from the group consisting of soil moisture sensors, pH sensors, and ambient temperature sensors. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the housing includes an externally accessible USB port configured for supplemental power input or direct configuration. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein multiple said systems are deployable across a distributed irrigation network and are controllable via a centralized interface.